Nebraska State Senator Joni Albrecht was joined by other pro-life lawmakers Wednesday morning as she announced she will be introducing legislation that prevents abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
The bill would require a doctor to perform an ultrasound before an abortion to listen for a fetal heartbeat. An abortion would be illegal if one is detected except in any cases involving rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
The bill also states that the word “abortion” will not be interpreted to include the removal of an unborn child who has already died, the unintentional termination of the life of an unborn child, or the termination or loss of the life of an unborn child during the practice of in vitro fertilization.
As for when a heartbeat can be detected, Dr. Katrina Furth, a developmental biologist at Charlotte Lozier Institute says “The science of embryology confirms that the heart is the first functioning organ in a developing human being, with the first heartbeat at just six weeks of pregnancy.”
There are no criminal penalties under the bill, and no woman who obtains or attempts to obtain an abortion can be held liable for violating the act. A doctor who performs an unlawful abortion could would have their medical license subject to discipline.
In response to Senator Albrecht’s announcement, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released an official statement condemning the legislation as “a significant new threat to legal abortion access in Nebraska.” Scout Richters, ACLU senior legal and policy counsel, said, “For many Nebraskans in need of abortion care, this ban would have the exact same effect as a total ban because many people do not know they are pregnant at the point when this proposed extreme restriction would take effect.”
Senator Albrecht will also introduce the Nebraska Pregnancy Help Act bill. It would establish a yearly $10 million tax credit for donations toward pregnancy help organizations which deliver services free of charge to help women come to term, encourage and enable parenting or adoption, and promote healthy childbirth.